Grain-drill



(No Model.)

R. B. SHELDON.

GRAIN DRILL.

No. 392,695. Patented Nov. 13, 1888. j

UNrTEn STATES PATENT RICHARD B. SHELDON, OF SHORTSVILLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE EMPIRE DRILL COMPANY, OF NE\V YORK.

GRAINS-DRILL.

$PECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,695, dated November 13, 1888.

Application filed May 11, 1888. Serial No. 273,558.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, RICHARD B. SHELDON, of Shortsville, in the county of Ontario and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Grain-Drills, of which the following is a specification.

Grain-drills and seeding-machines are com monly constructed at the present day with a series of drag-bars, each arranged to swing vertically at the rear end and provided with a tubular tooth or boot through which the seed is delivered to the soil. At certain times itis desirable to apply a yielding pressure to the drag-bars and teeth in order to force the latter into the soil, and at the same time allow them to rise independently when an excessive resistance is encountered. At other times it is desirable to raise the entire series of teeth out of action. Again, it is desirable to exert a limited lifting effect on the teeth to prevent them from sinking too deeply in the soil.

It is the aim of my invention to provide a simple contrivance by which the teeth may be properly controlled under the various conditions above recited; and to this end it consists, mainly, in flexible or yielding connections of peculiar construction to be employed between the drag-bars and a roclcshaft under the con trol of the driver.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my device as it appears when applied to use. Figs. 2 and 3'are side views of the device in its different positions. Figs. i and 5 are perspective views of the two parts of the vibrating arm.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the frame of the machine; B, one of the drag-bars jointed at its front end to the frame and adapted to swing vertically at the rear end, and G the drill tooth or hoe through which the seed is delivered, attached to the rear end of the dragbar.

The foregoing parts are or may be of ordinary construction and arrangement, and are not claimed as part of my invention. There will be, as usual, a series of drag-bars and teeth arranged side by side.

D represents a square rock-shaft extending across the machine from side to side, seated in suitable bearings therein and provided with a sector'pinion, E, fixed rigidly thereon, and

(No model.)

engaging a corresponding sector-pinion, F, se cured to or formed upon the lower end of a hand-lever, G, which is suitably pivoted to the main frame or other rigid support. handlever is provided with an ordinary locking-dog, H, which engages the supporting notched plate I for the purpose of holding the lever in the different positions in which it may be placed. By means of this lever the operator is enabled to turn the shaft D at will and to fix it in any required position. On the shaft D, I mount a series of my yielding connections, through which it is connected with the drag-bars for the purpose of controlling their vertical movement. These yielding devices (shown at K) consist each of three parts: first, an arm, a, adapted to fit at one end firmly upon and around the rock-shaft; second, an arm or member, I), applied to the upper side of and forming a prolongation or extension of the arm a, and, third, a strong metal spring, a, of a C shape. The portion a is formed on its upper face and at different distances from the shaft with two transverse notches or seats, a and a, which receive corresponding ribs, b and I)", formed in the under face of the arm I). The spring 0 is formed of flat steel coiled or bent into the form shown, and applied in such manner as to clasp the arms a I) firmly between its two ends. In order to prevent lateral displacement of the arm I) itis provided, as shown in Fig. 4, with notches b, which receive cor- .responding projections, of, on the upper face of the arm a. The spring is prevented from shifting longitudinally of the arms by notches a" and b therein, and is prevented from slipping laterally out of position by reason of a notch, a, formed in its upper end, so that it straddles the top of the arm I).

The tendency of the spring 0 is to hold the proximate face of the two arms in contact and to render the arm, as a whole, rigid. When, however, the arm in its downward movement meets with sufficient resistance, the spring will yield and the member I) turn upon the rib'b as a fulcrum, as illustrated in Fig. 2. When, on the contrary, the arm in its upward movement encounters resistance at the end, the spring yields and permits themember b to turn upon the rib b as a fulcrum away from the lower member, as illustrated inFig. 3. Thus The it will be seen the spring serves not only as a means of uniting the two parts of the arm, but alsoto permit the outer member to yield either upward or downward in relation to its companion.

A series of yielding devices are applied to the rock-shaft, one for each drag-bar, and the outer end of the arm connected with the dragbar through the medium of a bar, K, or equivalent rigid connection, as represented in Fig. 1.

When the hand-lever is thrown forward, the rock-shaft is turned backward and the springs caused, through the arm I) and the connectingrods, to applymore or less pressure in a downward direction upon the drag-bars and hoes, each hoe being, however, allowed to rise and fall independently of its companions. \Nhen the hand-lever is thrown backward a sufficient distance, the connecting devices will effect the elevation of the entire system of drag-bars and hoes. If it be thrown forward a less distance, the springs will exert a lesser pressure upon the hoes.

The essence of my invention resides in connecting the outer end of the lifting-arms to the other portion through the medium ofa spring which, while holding the two parts normally in agiven position, allows the outer end, under extreme resistance, to move either upward or downward.

\Vhile I prefer to employ the spring in the particular form herein shown and to form and unite the two parts of the lifting-arm,as shown, it is manifest that the details maybe variously modified.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a controlling device for the hoes of seeders, &c., the arms a b and the curved spring acting upon and holding together said parts, substantially as described.

2. In a device for controlling the hoes of seeding-machines, &c., the vibratory arm a, the arm or extension b,connceted therewith by two bearing-points or fulcra, and the C-shaped spring acting upon the outer sides of the respective arms between the fulcra, substantially as described.

3. In a controlling device for the hoes of grain-drills, &c.,the rock-shaft and means, substantially as shown, for turning and securing the same, in combination with the series of drag-bars, the controlling-rods, and the series of connecting devices between said rods and the rock-shaft, each device comprising the arms a and b and the spring a.

L In a controlling device for the hoes of grain-drills, &c., the arms a and b, lapped one upon the other and provided with two intermediate ribs or bearings, and the bent spring encircling the arm a and acting upon the outer faces of the two arms to hold them together, substantially as described.

5. In a device for controlling the bees of grain-drills and seeders, a rock-shaft having an arm rigidly attached thereto, a second arm having two points of bearing upon the first and adapted to turn upon said points alternately, and a spring acting upon said arms between the bearing-points and tending to draw them together.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this 17th day of February, 1888, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

RICHARD TH. SHELDON.

\Vitncsses:

HENRY O. KLINUK, 'M. I. TERWILTJGER. 

